Joseph the Hymnographer (c. AD 816–886) belonged to the Constantinopolitan intellectual élite and was a prominent teacher. His liturgical poetic oeuvre comprises
different subgenres. However, he is best known for his kanones. A kanon is a long hymn penned in one of the eight Byzantine modes and sung during the early
morning office (Orthros). The present critical edition aims to determine the original text of groups consisting of eight kanones each and dedicated to prominent
saints. Within each group, Joseph composed one kanon per mode.

Paraskevi Toma is postdoctoral Research Associate in Byzantine Studies at the University of Münster. She specializes in critical editions, mostly
editiones principes of Greek and Latin medieval works, as well as in comparative literature studies.